Gus Dur to revise justice system

Gus Dur to revise justice system

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Thursday he
would revamp Jakarta's justice system, including replacing
corrupt judges with honest ones in the capital's five district
courts, as part of efforts to create legal certainty for
investors.

"The five courts in Jakarta will be filled with so-called
honest judges. This will make Jakarta an example for the whole
nation and also a place where all the business cases will come
to," the President, popularly called Gus Dur, told a visiting
business delegation from the Netherlands at the state palace.

Gus Dur also said he would place honest people in key
positions of his administration dealing with legal matters as
part of the effort to combat corruption, and create a conducive
environment for foreign investors.

Gus Dur made the remarks amid growing concerns voiced by
foreign investors over the lack of transparency in the country's
justice system when mediating business disputes.

Jacques Shraven, chairman of the Confederation of Dutch
Industry and Trade and leader of the Dutch delegation, underlined
the importance of transparency to the Indonesian government to
lure back foreign investors to the country.

Shraven also called on the Indonesian Bank Restructuring
Agency (IBRA) to not only work professionally but also "quickly
and decisively" in carrying out its asset sale program.

The business delegation, comprising 65 businesspeople
representing 45 top Dutch companies, was accompanied by Dutch
vice prime minister and economic affairs minister Annemarie
Jorritsma.

As part of the agenda, Dutch company Interbeton signed a US$20
million contract on Thursday with the Batam Development Authority
(BIDA) to develop a low-cost housing project.

Dutch software company Magnus Indonesia also signed contracts
with state-owned airlines Garuda Indonesia on the implementation
of an information management system, and with Pelita Air
Services, owned by state oil and gas company Pertamina, on the
implementation of a financial system.

Indonesia's Eijkman Institute also signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Netherlands' Eijkman-Winkler Institute to
cooperate in market-oriented research and to sponsor one
postdoctoral fellowship. (jsk/prb)